Slow Miracle Store Page?

Another of my favorite poems from childhood is called “General Store” by Rachel Field. It starts out like this:

Some day I’m going to have a store
With a tinkly bell hung over the door,
With real glass cases and counter wide
And drawers all spilly with things inside.

Over 50 years later, the beginning of this poem and its cheerful clutter sounds more to me like my house than any store I ever worked in. But my first job was in a family owned department store, with checkerboard linoleum on the floor, old fashioned cash registers, and counters with tape dispensers and rolls of complimentary gift wrap.

The world sure has changed since then. But I’ve never gotten over my crush on innovative little storefronts. Or making my own cards. I’ve done that ever since I was a little girl, too, and I still do it whenever I have the time and energy.

Susan Voisin has provided me with the generous platform for this blog, and now she’s providing me with an opportunity to have my own store–right here on the blog. At first I thought it would be too much for me. But then I realized that right across the street from me I can get art quality prints and cards made at an affordable price. It’s where all my artist friends here in town get theirs made, and it’s a stone’s throw from my house. I can be hands on and see what things are going to look like before they get printed, which helps my brain make good decisions. And the prices are better. So I’ve been bringing things over and asking questions and walking to the post office and hefting mailing packages and asking questions there, too, and I’ve come up with a few things I could start with. But before I do, and Susan gets to work on making me my own Slow Miracle store page, I wanted to ask you fantastic readers if there’s enough interest to justify the outlay for printing the cards.

I wasn’t going to attempt this until next year. My original goal was to have this online by February for the opening of my art show at the Moscow Food Co-op. But I ended up painting two card-size versions of my masonry stove that I want to have printed for my own holiday cards. So I thought I’d show them to you, too, and see if what I can put together is appealing enough to expand the amount I order beyond what I would send out myself.

Here are the images that will be on the stove cards:

The cards are 5 x7. The printed image is a little smaller, bordered by white all around it. They will be blank inside so you can write your own message. To make my costs back, an individual card will sell for 3.25. But since it’s kind of silly to have to pay postage for an individual card, I thought I’d offer a package of 5 for $15.00 plus shipping and postage, which will probably be about $4.50.

Besides the two stove paintings, I can also easily have cards made with the “Listening to the Earth” drawing, the painting “Winter Trees” that’s on the cover of my book, and the rainbow painting in my previous post:

Of course the dark or colored edges and things like that will be cleaned up and cropped out. But I could offer a packet of 5 with one of each, or 5 of one, depending on if or what there’s interest in.

If there is interest, I hope to expand the choices, including the ballerina drawing in “In the Temple of My Daily Life.” (Perhaps we can find a way to sneak her in now.)

There are two more things I can offer right away in my Slow Miracle store: a high quality framable 8 x10 print (bordered in white) of “Listening to the Earth” and copies of my chapbook “If A Sparrow.” The “Listening to the Earth” print would be $18.00, plus shipping and postage–about the same amount as the cards–$4.50.

The chapbooks are $14.00 and can be mailed for $1.50 in the US.

It’s such a joy to be able to practice drawing and painting each day. I’m very excited to be able to entertain how to make this dream come true, and feel almost like a little kid again every time I finish something, or see it printed in a new form. Sometimes I even forget to eat, and that’s certainly a first.

Is it time to open a Slow Miracle Art, Cards and Books “store” here on Plant-Based Slow Motion Miracle? I hope so. I couldn’t write the blog without you, and I can’t open my very own store without you either. Please let me know which cards or items you especially like, so I know what the first things in my virtual “display case” should be!

Oh, how exciting! I would love to see a store of your art and would definitely order! I especially love the ballerina (she’s just poised to sneak in, isn’t she?) and the rainbow. And the stove. And, well I love it all! Will a pack of cards be all the same of one card, or will it be a mix of various prints?

Thanks, Pam! Thanks for your question–which would you prefer?–I was thinking to offer an assortment pack, and maybe a one of a kind pack, too. I will print a relatively small amount out to start with, so I’m trying to how to divide the amount I chose to print among the designs.

Thanks so much, Pam! This is very helpful. I need to start small, so I think I will be sure to at least start with an assortment pack since everyone who said anything to me liked that idea. There will probably be some extra stove ones, since I’m getting that printed for my own holiday cards. We’ll see how it goes. . .to be continued. . .I appreciate you taking the time to give me the feedback.

I love it!! I would certainly buy! I like them all – having the option of a multi-pack of cards (with a different print on all 5), or single-theme cards is great. Also larger frame-ables. Maybe at some point you could do exclusive signed originals every now and then. The possibilities are endless! And your price point is in line with other similar products, so I think that’s good, too.

Thanks to Susan for helping make this a reality! And congrats on getting to see this next step of a long awaited dream come true!

Thanks, Veronica!! You are one of my inspirations to keep at figuring this out. 🙂 So you like having the option of a different print on all five cards in a pack, or a single theme. And thanks for the feedback about price points. I worked on that. One of the reasons I am not offering a larger print of the drawing is that it put the cost for one with shipping close to $30.00. And they will be harder to carry to the post office because they don’t fit in my back pack. But I do have two of those printed up. One for my show in February, and one for whoever would like it. The prints and cards are all signed but perhaps, too, at some point, I might sell signed originals. They would be more though.

And yes, I’m so grateful to Susan for cheering me on and helping me make this a reality! It’s really something to see where following “the thread of life” is taking me. 🙂

Aww, thanks! And yes – I like having lots of options. 🙂 I’m not sure, but I think the post office carries tubes (well, long triangles) for shipping larger artwork rolled up, and the cost is around $5-6 uninsured/ground, last I checked (I had shipped some art a couple years ago). And the tubes should be free from usps… Not sure how much the printing costs, though (and if that’s what you already priced out). But anyway, definitely an idea for a future point, if you’re wanting to expand the store. And the tubes might fit in your pack, better, too?
And local coffee shops that feature local artists – at least the ones around here sell some of their originals for $200+! So another idea to get your stuff out there. Ok, I’m getting way ahead of myself now…
I will keep my fingers crossed for an awesome show in February! And good luck getting all this store stuff launched! I’ll be at the ready to be one of your first buyers. 🙂
xoxo

Hi Maria, I love your art. But truth is what you want: No matter how much I love your art, I cannot afford to buy any cards. I don’t think too many of your readers will be in a financial condition like mine: we are on a very low, and fixed income. We are two large dogs (the joy of our lives) one of whom has expensive medical problems, my husband and myself. There is *no* money for extras, none at all. I hope that not too many of your readers are similarly strapped for funds.
Pat

Hi Pat, thank you for your lovely compliment about my art, and your honesty about not being able to afford the cards. I completely understand, and don’t expect that all my readers will be able to afford them. I have lived on a fixed income for a long time myself, and though things are more comfortable now than they were due to the blessings of a small inheritance, I still have to be very careful. So I understand having little to no money for extras like this. I hope you are able to continue giving your dogs the care they need, and that you will also continue to feel welcome here–there’s no requirement to buy anything to be part of the conversation!! all best, Maria

Hi, I’m Maria (aka Moonwatcher), and this blog shares with you how eating whole plants and starches has changed my health and my life. Please join me as I share my little victories and epiphanies, the food I love to eat, and other insights about how I live well with MS, Fibromyalgia and mild Cerebral Palsy.

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Disclaimer: This is a personal blog, the story of one person's transformation in health. The information included here is for educational purposes only. It is not intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. The reader should always consult his or her healthcare provider with any questions regarding a medical condition or treatment plan.